Before you hire a property management company in Hayward, make sure you’ve taken some time to research who they are and how they work. You should consider the services and support that a few different companies can provide, and then make your decision after talking to someone in those companies. There are key things to look for when you decide to hire a property manager. Property Management Systems
The first thing you will want to know is whether they have systems in place. This goes beyond software. You will want to know how they handle all the ins and outs of their office, and you’ll want to get to know their processes. It’s important to know how their filing works and when they make payments and when rents are collected. A good office will have very streamlined systems, and a good property manager can explain it all to you in under five minutes. If they seem like they don’t want to explain it, this may show they aren’t organized.
Knowing the Current Laws
Next, make sure they are up to date on all the current laws. Find out if they attend legal seminars and stay current with the industry changes and best practices. There are new laws and changes all the time, and it’s important that your property management company understands the laws and requirements. There are always laws for buildings, construction, accounting, and rental properties in general. It cannot hurt to ask a potential property manager how often they go to legal seminars.
Measure a Manager’s Experience
You want your property manager to have experience in the industry. You really don’t want to be hiring your cousin’s nephew to do your property management, even if they are really smart. That nephew probably does not go to law seminars or have any good systems in place. They of course could develop them and maybe over the next year learn those laws, but do you really want to start with them from scratch?
Always Ask Questions
You want to make sure you go to a lot of different potential companies and ask a lot of questions. If something is important to you, then it should be important to them. Make sure that your voice is being heard and you aren’t being rushed. That’s a bad sign.
A property manager who is helpful and answers all your questions when you call for a quote is probably going to be helpful when you need actual help. That’s much better than someone who just sees you as a paycheck. Keep the property manager on the phone for at least 10 minutes. If they don’t have 10 minutes to talk to you, they probably are not worth your time. When you have an emergency or you have a problem and you need them, will someone who is unwilling to talk to you really be the professional you want handling your property?
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our property management services, please feel free to reach out to us at The HLW Group.
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